Seven-time Tour de France winner criticised Tour Director Christian Prudhomme for his actions regarding Bjarne Riis. The Texan referred to the Frenchman as a "hypocrite" for wanting to take away Riis 1996 Tour jersey following the Dane's confession to doping during the same year.

"The hypocrisy of certain directors irritates me," Armstrong said, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "After the confession of Riis, Prudhomme asked for the return of the yellow jersey. Why did he never ask Virenque for his polka-dot jerseys? To Thévenet for his two yellow jerseys? The family of Anquetil for his five yellow jerseys?"
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Did Thévenet and Anquetil admit to doping? If so, was it clearly against the rules back then as it was in the case of Riis?

Cycling is apparently trying to get more serious about doping. Is Lance on board with this?

Of all the wrongs out there in the world that Lance could have chosen to speak out against, is this one really worthy? What could Lance's motivation be for opposing retroactive yellow jersey returns? Could it have something to do with protecting a significant portion of his own wardrobe?

The riders Armstrong referred to either were suspended for failing drug tests or made admissions to it. Some of the "admissions" are a bit vague, belong to the school of: "Did I dope? Well, you don't win the Tour on merely mineral water and vitamins..."

Cycling is apparently trying to get more serious about doping. Is Lance on board with this?[*] Of all the wrongs out there in the world that Lance could have chosen to speak out against, is this one really worthy? What could Lance's motivation be for opposing retroactive yellow jersey returns? Could it have something to do with protecting a significant portion of his own wardrobe?[/list]

Seven-time Tour de France winner criticised Tour Director Christian Prudhomme for his actions regarding Bjarne Riis. The Texan referred to the Frenchman as a "hypocrite" for wanting to take away Riis 1996 Tour jersey following the Dane's confession to doping during the same year.

"The hypocrisy of certain directors irritates me," Armstrong said, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "After the confession of Riis, Prudhomme asked for the return of the yellow jersey. Why did he never ask Virenque for his polka-dot jerseys? To Thévenet for his two yellow jerseys? The family of Anquetil for his five yellow jerseys?"
...

Did Thévenet and Anquetil admit to doping? If so, was it clearly against the rules back then as it was in the case of Riis?

Cycling is apparently trying to get more serious about doping. Is Lance on board with this?

Of all the wrongs out there in the world that Lance could have chosen to speak out against, is this one really worthy? What could Lance's motivation be for opposing retroactive yellow jersey returns? Could it have something to do with protecting a significant portion of his own wardrobe?

Armstrong is wrong. Prudhomme never said, Riis should give back his yellow jersey. He denied having said it. It was actually Pat Mcquaid who said it.

__________________"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey

Armstrong is wrong. Prudhomme never said, Riis should give back his yellow jersey. He denied having said it. It was actually Pat Mcquaid who said it.

Riis offered to return his jersey. something to the effect of "if they want it they can come get it, i dont need it."

while i tend to agree that stripping Riis of the victory is largely pointless and perhaps hypocritical, im surpised LA is piping up on the subject, given that hes just a few whispers and b samples away from Riis in the realm of doped champs.

[color=blue]Armstrong slams Prudhomme"The hypocrisy of certain directors irritates me," Armstrong said, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. "After the confession of Riis, Prudhomme asked for the return of the yellow jersey. Why did he never ask Virenque for his polka-dot jerseys? To Thévenet for his two yellow jerseys? The family of Anquetil for his five yellow jerseys?"

Maybe its just me but isn't Armstrong's point about equal treatment of those busted for doping?

He still won! He is a great ambassador of the sport and loves the sport. He is from Belgium and worked for an East German team that is known for it's systematic doping of athletes.

Winnipeg, Canada

You are joking,right? Or did I miss something here? Riis is not from Belgium, but from Denmark. He rode for many teams (he even was a helper for Hinault), but Deutsche Telekom was not East German. It was formed in 1996 (there was no East Germany left), and its head quarters were in Bonn (ex-West Germany).

And if you're trying to find an analogy with doping in East Germany in the 70's, the doctors of Telekom admitting to helping with doping a couple of months ago were from Freiburg, and that's in ex-West Germany too.

Oh, and other piece of news, Riis used to live in Luxembourg, reason why he hired the Schleck brothers. Luxembourg, small country stuck between Germany, Belgium and France. But careful, Luxembourg is NOT Belgium. Own culture, own history, own language. OK?

Sorry for being touchy about Europe, I have to admit I have no clue where Winnipeg is compared to, say, Quebec...;o)

Have a nice day (Ia dmire people who watch 3 hours of cycling furing the night)

while i tend to agree that stripping Riis of the victory is largely pointless and perhaps hypocritical, im surpised LA is piping up on the subject, given that hes just a few whispers and b samples away from Riis in the realm of doped champs.

And 'A' samples, unless I've missed something. But other than that, you're right, there's been rumors, just like the rumor I started about you yesterday.

__________________
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Ok, I think it's alright for a past champion to comment on someone or some organization that that champion has problems with. I read the comment as fair treatment for all champions that may have some skeletons in their closets.

That being said I also believe that everyone in pro cycling at that level dope(d)(s). Much the same as power hitters in MLB, and just about everyone in NFL. If that's the case they are already on a level playing field...

All the same, I don't like doping as it doesn't really test the rider. Instead, it tests their sports physician, and pharmacist. I'd rather it were a clean playing field as that, in my opinion, would more equally test their talent and willingness to endure pain.